Liberals to chase skilled migrants
SKILLED business migrants will be targeted under a Liberal Party plan to boost the state's population to 650,000 by the year 2050.
State election
Don't miss out on the headlines from State election. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SKILLED business migrants will be targeted under a Liberal Party plan to boost the state's population to 650,000 by the year 2050.
The Tasmanian Liberals will today announce measures aimed at attracting more economic migrants to the state including a $500,000 marketing and trade mission boost.
Opposition Leader Will Hodgman has set an ambitious target for the state's population saying it is time to decide to move forward or become the nation's retirement state.
The policy comes as debate grows about Tasmania's population growth rate -- which sits well below the national average.
Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows Tasmania's population on June 2013 was 513,000 up by 0.2 per cent in 12 months.
By comparison the national population of about 23,130,900 grew by 1.8 per cent.
Community Development spokesman Elise Archer yesterday said an important component of the Liberals' Big Tasmania Plan was increasing our share of business and skilled migrants.
"The strategy will address flexibility of entry criteria, links to skills shortages, mentoring, and ensuring overseas qualifications are recognised," Ms Archer said yesterday.
Under the plan an additional $500,000 will be invested into attracting business and skilled migrants including "broadening the promotion of the state through targeted marketing strategies overseas, trade missions, and working closely with the Australian Government and the Department of Immigration."
Ms Archer said the Liberals would also encourage international students living and studying in the state to make Tasmania their permanent home by providing improved pathways to permanent residency.
Yesterday Labor and the Greens, without seeing the Liberals new policy, indicated they would not be putting target figures on the state's future population.
Economic Development Minister David O'Byrne said Labor would focus on job creation as a way of boosting population.
"The way to attract and retain workers, and grow Tasmania's population, is through a strong and diversified economy," Mr O'Byrne said yesterday.
"The Government has an economic development plan to grow our economy and create sustainable, long-term jobs by playing to Tasmania's natural strengths in key sectors where we have a competitive advantage."
He said the plan was recently updated to include cultural and creative industries and international education areas identified as drivers of economic growth.
Greens leader Nick McKim said population growth was an important issue but his party would not be setting arbitrary figures for population growth.
"Health and prosperity for our people is not determined by population numbers alone, but rather by the way we live," Mr McKim said.
Workforce demographer Lisa Denny has called for Tasmania to intervene to stop the loss of younger, working residents in their child-bearing years.
Ms Denny, who had not seen the Liberals' policy, said intervention was needed "to provide the necessary supply of labour we need in an ageing society".
She said skilled business migration and other measures were important for growth.
"Any strategy should be targeting a preferred demographic," Ms Denny said.
"It is really about job creation in high-skilled areas."
She said stopping young families leaving was dependent on factors headed by liveability.
Ms Archer said there were economic and cultural benefits in boosting skilled and business migration.
"Yet in 2012-13 Tasmania attracted only 308 skilled migrants, which is just 0.5 per cent of Australia's share," she said.